University of Iowa did not bill Medicaid for two abortions

IOWA CITY (AP) — The University of Iowa didn’t bill Medicaid for two abortions performed since July 1, leaving the governor without a decision to make.

Last spring the Legislature voted to require the governor’s personal approval before Medicaid could pay for any abortions. Gov. Terry Branstad said he was ready to do so.

The new law doesn’t require the governor’s permission for abortions to be performed.

The university’s vice president of medical affairs, Dr. Jean Robillard, told The Des Moines Register that the two abortions would have qualified for Medicaid reimbursement because both involved fetal anomalies.

Robillard declined to say whether the decision not to bill them to Medicaid was related to the new requirement for the governor’s approval.

Iowa’s Medicaid program paid nearly $20,000 total for 22 abortions in fiscal 2012.